Angel
Boy name · #67 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Angel? In official American birth records, Angel has been tracked continuously since 1888, giving it 137 years of documented American history.
Angel is currently the #67 boy name in the United States — 4,757 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #64, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 378 boys born in 2025 was named Angel.
The 137-year story
Angel first appears in the Social Security records in 1888, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 11,602 boys were named Angel — good for #31 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Angel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Angel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Angel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Angel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Angel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Angel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Angel is most common in NM (6.9 per 1,000), NV (6.5 per 1,000), AZ (5.9 per 1,000), CA (5.4 per 1,000), TX (5.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 3.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Angel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Angel
Statistically, parents drawn to Angel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Adrian, Gabriel, Logan, Caleb, and Aiden.
AdrianGabrielLoganCalebAidenIsaiahIsaacEmmanuel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Angel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,757 | #67 |
| 2024 | 4,983 | #63 |
| 2023 | 4,900 | #62 |
| 2022 | 5,105 | #62 |
| 2021 | 4,718 | #67 |
| 2020 | 4,527 | #76 |
| 2019 | 4,917 | #73 |
| 2018 | 5,065 | #72 |
| 2017 | 5,278 | #71 |
| 2016 | 5,564 | #70 |
| 2015 | 6,116 | #64 |
| 2014 | 6,314 | #67 |
| 2013 | 6,369 | #67 |
| 2012 | 7,024 | #57 |
| 2011 | 7,536 | #52 |
| 2010 | 8,776 | #42 |
| 2009 | 9,853 | #37 |
| 2008 | 10,357 | #36 |
| 2007 | 11,376 | #34 |
| 2006 | 11,602 | #31 |
| 2005 | 10,993 | #32 |
| 2004 | 9,516 | #44 |
| 2003 | 9,161 | #47 |
| 2002 | 8,192 | #49 |
| 2001 | 6,978 | #58 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Angel?
In official American birth records, the name Angel first appeared in 1888 (over 137 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Angel a popular boy name?
Angel ranked #67 among boys in 2025 with 4,757 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #64.
When was the name Angel most popular?
Angel peaked in 2006, when 11,602 American boys received the name (ranked #31 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Angel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 378 newborn American boys was named Angel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.